按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Eitel； p。 15。
＇10＇ See chapter ix。
＇11＇ See chapter xi。
＇12＇ He had been born in the Sakya house； to do for the world what the
character of all his past births required； and he had done it。
161
… Page 162…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
＇13＇ They could no more see him； the World…honoured one。 Compare
the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xi； Buddhist Suttas； pp。 89； 121； and
note on p。 89。
＇14＇ Sudana or Sudatta was the name of the Bodhisattva in the birth
which preceded his appearance as Sakyamuni or Gotama； when he became
the Supreme Buddha。 This period is known as the Vessantara Jataka； of
which Hardy； M。 B。； pp。 116…124； gives a long account； see also 〃Buddhist
Birth Stories；〃 the Nidana Katha； p。 158。 In it； as Sudana； he fulfilled 〃the
Perfections；〃 his distinguishing attribute being entire self…renunciation and
alms…giving； so that in the Nidana Katha is made to say （〃Buddhist Birth
Stories；〃 p。 159）：
〃This earth； unconscious though she be； and ignorant of joy or grief；
Even she by my free…giving's mighty power was shaken seven times。〃
Then； when he passed away； he appeared in the Tushita heaven； to
enter in due time the womb of Maha…maya； and be born as Sakyamuni。
＇15＇ I take the name Sama from Beal's revised version。 He says in a
note that the Sama Jataka； as well as the Vessantara； is represented in the
Sanchi sculptures。 But what the Sama Jataka was I do not yet know。 But
adopting this name； the two Chinese characters in the text should be
translated 〃the change into Sama。〃 Remusat gives for them； 〃la
transformation en eclair；〃 Beal； in his first version； 〃his appearance as a
bright flash of light；〃 Giles； 〃as a flash of lightning。〃 Julien's Methode
does not give the phonetic value in Sanskrit of ｛。｝。
＇16＇ In an analysis of the number of times and the different forms in
which Sakyamuni had appeared in his Jataka births； given by Hardy （M。
B。； p。 100）； it is said that he had appeared six times as an elephant； ten
times as a deer； and four times as a horse。
＇17＇ Chaitya is a general term designating all places and objects of
religious worship which have a reference to ancient Buddhas； and
including therefore Stupas and temples as well as sacred relics； pictures；
statues； &c。 It is defined as 〃a fane；〃 〃a place for worship and presenting
offerings。〃 Eitel； p。 141。 The hill referred to is the sacred hill of Mihintale；
about eight miles due east of the Bo tree； Davids' Buddhism； pp。 230；
231。
162
… Page 163…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
＇18＇ Eitel says （p。 31）： 〃A famous ascetic； the founder of a school；
which flourished in Ceylon； A。D。 400。〃 But Fa…hien gives no intimation of
Dharma…gupta's founding a school。
163
… Page 164…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
CHAPTER XXXIX
CREMATION OF AN ARHAT。 SERMON OF A DEVOTEE。
South of the city seven le there is a vihara； called the Maha…vihara；
where 3000 monks reside。 There had been among them a Sramana； of such
lofty virtue； and so holy and pure in his observance of the disciplinary
rules； that the people all surmised that he was an Arhat。 When he drew
near his end； the king came to examine into the point； and having
assembled the monks according to rule； asked whether the bhikshu had
attained to the full degree of Wisdom。＇1＇ They answered in the affirmative；
saying that he was an Arhat。 The king accordingly； when he died； buried
him after the fashion of an Arhat； as the regular rules prescribed。 Four of
five le east from the vihara there was reared a great pile of firewood；
which might be more than thirty cubits square； and the same in height。
Near the top were laid sandal； aloe； and other kinds of fragrant wood。
On the four sides （of the pile） they made steps by which to ascend it。
With clean white hair…cloth； almost like silk； they wrapped （the body）
round and round。＇2＇ They made a large carriage…frame； in form like our
funeral car； but without the dragons and fishes。＇3＇
At the time of the cremation； the king and the people； in multitudes
from all quarters； collected together； and presented offerings of flowers
and incense。 While they were following the car to the burial… ground；＇4＇
the king himself presented flowers and incense。 When this was finished；
the car was lifted on the pile； all over which oil of sweet basil was poured；
and then a light was applied。 While the fire was blazing； every one； with a
reverent heart； pulled off his upper garment； and threw it； with his feather…
fan and umbrella； from a distance into the midst of the flames； to assist the
burning。 When the cremation was over； they collected and preserved the
bones； and proceeded to erect a tope。 Fa…hien had not arrived in time （to
see the distinguished Shaman） alive； and only saw his burial。
At that time the king；＇5＇ who was a sincere believer in the Law of
Buddha and wished to build a new vihara for the monks； first convoked a
great assembly。 After giving the monks a meal of rice； and presenting his
offerings （on the occasion）； he selected a pair of first…rate oxen； the horns
164
… Page 165…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
of which were grandly decorated with gold； silver； and the precious
substances。 A golden plough had been provided； and the king himself
turned up a furrow on the four sides of the ground within which the
building was supposed to be。 He then endowed the community of the
monks with the population； fields； and houses； writing the grant on plates
of metal； （to the effect） that from that time onwards； from generation to
generation； no one should venture to annul or alter it。
In this country Fa…hien heard an Indian devotee； who was reciting a
Sutra from the pulpit； say：〃Buddha's alms…bowl was at first in Vaisali；
and now it is in Gandhara。＇6＇ After so many hundred years' （he gave；
when Fa…hien heard him； the exact number of years； but he has forgotten
it）； 〃it will go to Western Tukhara；＇7＇ after so many hundred years； to
Khoten； after so many hundred years； to Kharachar；＇8＇ after so many
hundred years； to the land of Han； after so many hundred years； it will
come to Sinhala； and after so many hundred years； it will return to Central
India。 After that； it will ascend to the Tushita heaven； and when the
Bodhisattva Maitreya sees it； he will say with a sigh； 'The alms…bowl of
Sakyamuni Buddha is come；' and with all the devas he will present to it
flowers and incense for seven days。 When these have expired； it will
return to Jambudvipa； where it will be received by the king of the sea
nagas； and taken into his naga palace。 When Maitreya shall be about to
attain to perfect Wisdom （and become Buddha）； it will again separate into
four bowls；＇9＇ which will return to the top of mount Anna；＇9＇ whence they
came。 After Maitreya has become Buddha； the four deva kings will again
think of the Buddha （with their bowls as they did in the case of the
previous Buddha）。 The thousand Buddhas of this Bhadra…kalpa； indeed；
will all use the same alms…bowl； and when the bowl has disappeared； the
Law of Buddha will go on gradually to be extinguished。 After that
extinction has taken place； the life of man will be shortened； till it is only a
period of five years。 During this period of a five years' life； rice； butter；
and oil will all vanish away； and men will become exceedingly wicked。
The grass and trees which they lay hold of will change into swords and
clubs； with which they will hurt； cut； and kill one another。 Those among
them on whom there is blessing will withdraw from socie